Lawrenceville, NJ – The Rider University field hockey team fell at home to visiting Fairfield, 1-0, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Sunday afternoon at Ben Cohen Field.

The Broncs (7-7, 2-2 MAAC) suffered their second home setback of the season, while the Stags (5-10, 3-1 MAAC) earned their third conference win in a row. Fairfield has topped Rider in each of the last two seasons.  

Fairfield opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a whistle led to a Stag penalty stroke. Erin Buckley fired a shot into the back of the cage past a diving Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium). The tally was her second of the season and proved to be the game-winner as neither team would break through for the rest of the contest.

Rider's best opportunity to score came with 14 minutes remaining in regulation. The Broncs had back-to-back penalty corners and fired three shots on goal that were all turned aside by Stag netminder Caitlin Gilligan. During the burst, senior tri-captain Allison Baligian (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), classmate Melissa Cunningham (Oaklyn, NJ/Collingswood) and freshman Kaitlyn Flemming (Bellmawr, NJ/Triton Regional High School) all had shots on target.

The hosts threatened once again with less than two minutes left in the contest as Cunningham had a shot that was saved by Gilligan. The loose ball hit a player in front of the net and found the back of the cage. The play was blown dead after it was touched and Fairfield possessed the ball for the remainder of the game to escape with the win.

In goal for the Broncs, Vandam made three saves in a losing effort.

Notes & Quotes
"I think we played some of our best hockey this season today," Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong said. "The bottom line is that you have to score in order to compete and we so many chances to score that we didn't cash in on."

"Our defensive back line have been doing a really good job keeping opposing teams out of our circle," Hussong added. "I feel like we matches Fairfield's intensity, but we just didn't score."

- Rider is now 2-2 in home this season.
- Rider has now played 10 of its 14 games this year away from home.
- The Broncs lead the all-time series with Fairfield, 15-6.
- Both teams had eight shots and five shots on goal.  
- The Broncs took six penalty corners compared to five for the Stags.
- Rider has surrendered just one goal in each of their first four MAAC games in 2017.
- The Broncs were shutout for the third time this season (two of those games have been in conference play).
- Three of Rider's four conference games have been decided by one goal this year.
- Freshman Kaitlyn Flemming was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week on Tuesday. It was the second time this season that she received the honor. Heading into this weekend's slate, she led all freshman in the league in scoring with five goals.
- Freshman Lena Vandam was tabbed as the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. It was her second time this fall receiving the accolade. She is one of two players and the only goalkeeper to win the award more than once in 2017.

Broncs by the Numbers
- The Broncs are now 2-6 in one-goal games this year.
- Eline De Jong and Cunningham had a team-best two shots. Both Cunningham's shots were on goal.
- Three other Rider players had one shot apiece.
- Freshman Brittany Romanczuck had a defensive save. It was her first career defensive save.  

Up Next
Rider returns to action on Friday, October 20, with a home MAAC contest against Sacred Heart that is slated to begin at 7:00 pm. The Broncs will honor their seniors prior to the game for their contributions to the program over the last four years. To follow live stats and video for the game visit the field hockey schedule page on GoBroncs.com.